MOUNTAINSIDE - Watchung Stables closed its doors to the public after two horses tested positive for equine herpes.

The news of the stable temporarily closing was posted on Union County's website. After the first horse was diagnosed, the estimated opening date was April 5, but after the second diagnosis came in, the opening date has been pushed further back.

Last month, the state announced that a horse had tested positive for the "highly infectious equine herpes myeloencephalopathy" at the Union County property. Shortly after, another horse contracted the respiratory form of the disease.

"The property is still under quarantine with a potential release date of April 9, pending no more cases," said Jeff Wolfe, public information officer for the state Department of Agriculture. "Temperatures of the horses are being taken twice daily and there have been no new illnesses.”

The state did not confirm which stable the equine herpes was at due to a policy, but Union County's website explicitly named Watchung Stables.

The two Union County horses are the first reported EHV-1 cases (equine herpes virus) in New Jersey in 2018, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

When the second horse contracted equine herpes, the horse had an elevated temperature and was showing respiratory signs, but no neurological signs were noted by the attending veterinarian, according to a news release.

The second horse has been moved into the isolation barn on the property and the entire property remains under quarantine. No horses have moved onto or off of the property in approximately a month, so exposure to horses outside the area is considered unlikely.

The first horse was moved into the isolation barn on the property when it was diagnosed with equine herpes. The finding of the other herpes-positive horse had reset the quarantine clock and delayed the release date.

The equine herpes virus organism spreads quickly from horse to horse and can cause respiratory problems, especially in young horses, spontaneous abortions in pregnant mares, and the neurologic form of the virus can result in death, according to the release. The incubation period of the virus is typically two to 10 days.

The virus spreads readily through direct contact with infected materials. While highly infectious, the virus does not persist in the environment for an extended time and is neutralized by hand soap, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and sunlight.

The virus does not affect humans and other domestic animals, with the exception of llamas and alpacas.

Concerned owners should consult with their veterinarian prior to taking any action as the clinical signs of infection with the neurological form of equine herpes virus are common to many other diseases. The NJDA Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory provides testing for the neurologic form of equine herpes.